GAY INCLUSIVE SHOWS SHINE IN EMMY NOMINATIONS

American TV shows that include gay characters or themes have scooped many of the nominations for the 64th annual Emmy Awards, reports the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

The acclaimed comedy series Modern Family has a total of 14 nominations. In addition to Best Comedy Series, stars Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet, who play gay couple Mitchell and Cameron, were both nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category.

This is the third year in a row that Ferguson and Stonestreet have received Emmy recognition for these roles, with Stonestreet receiving the award in 2010.

Openly-gay actor Jim Parsons was nominated as Lead Actor in a Comedy for his work as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory. 30 Rock saw out actress Margaret Cho being nominated for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy, and Will Arnett being recognised for his Best Guest Actor performance as gay executive Devon Banks in the show.

In the reality television category, all the nominated shows – Project Runway, The Voice, The Amazing Race, Top Chef and Dancing with the Stars – featured LGBT contestants, including lesbian tennis legend Martina Navratilova and trans activist and author Chaz Bono.

Openly gay dancer Travis Wall was nominated for Outstanding Choreography for a Dancing with the Stars routine.

The Good Wife’s Archie Panjabi was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress, Drama category for her performance as bisexual investigator Kalinda Sharma. The series received seven nominations in total this year.

Other shows with gay characters such as Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and Downton Abbey are also competing for the Best Drama gong.

American Horror Story, created by openly-gay Ryan Murphy and which features recurring gay characters, is up for 17 awards including Best Miniseries or Movie and a Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie nod for gay actor Denis O’Hare.

GLAAD congratulated this year’s “LGBT-inclusive nominees, industry professionals and allies whose outstanding work allows the stories of the community to be brought to a wide television audience”.